Dad 'forgot' baby in car

Cape Town - The father who left his 17-month-old baby boy in a car at the UCT campus was not supposed to take him that day, said a UCT spokesperson.

The body of little Janosch Wilkinson was found in the back of his father's car in the UCT parking lot on Friday afternoon.

Dr Andrew Wilkinson, a senior lecturer in electronic engineering was supposed to take little Janosch to his grandparents in Claremont and not to a creche as reported earlier, said Gerda Kruger, UCT spokesperson on Sunday.

According to Kruger it was unusual for Dr Wilkinson to take the children to school and to take Janosch to his grandparents.

An inquest would be held to determine whether Janosch's father was negligent when he left him for hours in the car while he went to work.

Family was traumatised

Dr Wilkinson did not usually take the road to Claremont and it was understandable that he forgot to take the boy to his grandparents, said the UCT spokesperson.

Kruger said Janosch, the youngest of four children, had fallen asleep which meant it was quiet in the car.

"Dr Wilkinson clearly forgot about the child."

"He locked his door and went to his office and only later realised that Janosch was still in the back of the car."

According to Kruger, the whole family was badly traumatised.

"Since the incident happened, the family have supported one another, especially supporting Andrew. They are trying to cope with the enormous trauma."

She said the reality was that circumstances had caused the tragic accident.

According to her Dr Wilkinson wanted some good to come from his pain and sorrow and wanted to make other parents aware of how easily such an accident could happen and how one's life could change in a second.

Captain Randall Stoffels said no charge had been laid against Dr Wilkinson and he did not want to speculate on whether Janosch had been murdered.

He said an inquest would be held and a report would be compiled after the investigation was completed, which would determine if anyone should be charged.